Anchoring means for artificial teeth.



N. WHITAKER. ANC HORING MEANS FOR ARTIFICIAL TEETH.

' APPLICATION FILED SEPT-27. 19H.

1 27 9, 805 Patented Sept. 24, 1918.

N'EnsoN B. WHITAKER, or PROVIDENCE, RHODE. ISLAND.

ANCHORING MEANS ron. ARTIFICIAL TEETH.

Specification of lietters'lat'ent. Patenfefl -ept. 24, 1918.

Application filed Septemlier 27 1917 Serial n6. 193,564.

To all (whom it may concern 4 7 Be it known that I', NELSON B. WVHITA'KER, a citizen of the United States, residing at Providence, in .the county of Providence, State of Rhode Island, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Anchoring Means for Artificial Teeth, of which the following is a specification. I

My invention relates to artificialteeth and consists of an improved means for anchoring or fastening the individiial teeth to-the plate or backing on which they are, mounted in forming sets or dentures.

The object of my improvement isto pro vide a tooth having a more natural form and appearance and adapted t obe fastened to the plate with greater security, while-at the'same time allowing for its removal and replacement should occasion require; Further objects of the invention are to render the tooth applicable to either metal, vulcanite or composition plates, and to'pr'ovid'e for setting it without heat so as toavoid discoloration of the porcelain.

The manner and means for carrying out the improvement are fully disclosed in the following specification, illustrated by the accompanying drawings, in which like reference charactersdesignat'e like parts. In the drawings Figure 1 is a sectional view of my improved denture shown in magnified size and illustratingfthe method of attaching or anchoring the tooth to theplate'; r

Fig. 2, a detail view-of that part of the anchoring-means'for the tooth which is fas tened to the plate;

Fig. 8, 'a' detail view of the anchoringelement which is embedded in the tooth, showing a slightly modified form thereof;

Fig. 4, a sideview of the same;

Fig. 5, a detail view of the anchoring-stud or screw; and

Fig. 6, a view showing a method of securing the anchoring-means to a metal plate.

Referring first to Fig. 1, T designates an artificial tooth which may be molded from porcelain or other similar material in the usual manner, it being noted that the base of the tooth is relatively broad andconcaved while its sides taper upwardly to the cutting edge at the too. In this form my improved toot-h simulates the natural configuration of human incisors which are of more or less wedge-shape as shown. Inserted in the body of the tooth near its base,

Where, it is of greaterdiameter, is a vertical tube, B, preferably constructed from nickel or some other non-corrosive metal" andusu allv baked into the enamel after the latter has been molded around it. As shown particularly in Figs. 3 and 4 the tube B isflat tened and closed at one end and hasproj-ec tionsor lobes Z), Z) on its sides; In Fig. l thelobe' orlug 6 of the tube B projectsfrom one side only, but in Figs. 3a1id 4- the method of forming the end of the tube provides two projection's'or lugs Z2, b. 011. opp sitesid'es', makinga sort of spearh'ead with a sharp point 6' at its end. The flattening ofthe tube B at. its end is designed to prevent; it from turningwithin the tooth T and the side lobes I) provide abutments to anchor the tube inflplace and prevent its withdrawall Below the tube B the tooth is formed with a cylindrical opening adapted to receive' the end of another'tube G which is secured to the plate P, see-Fig. 1'. The

tube C is flanged out at its bottom, see Fig. 2, to provide acyl'mdrical head or mush? room base for anchorlng it int hevulca'nite plate P.

In applying" the tube C toametal plate the flaring base 0 is soldered directly thereto as shown in Fig. 6, After the tube C has been secured in'place on the plate P the tooth T is slipped onto its end which projects the top of the plate and a screw S is then inserted therethrough from the bottom. The'screw S, as-shown, in detail in Fig. 5, has a. cham-fered head" which fits the flaring opening at the lower end; of the tube C and its end is threaded to screw into the threaded bore of the'tub'e' B. Thetuhe C locates thet'oothT in position on the plate P and the'screw Sis insertedifrom the under side and screwed up intothetubeB'to draw the tooth down onto the plate with its concavedlbase'fit'ting snugly thereagainst'. Anv opening '0 is left in the under side of the plate P through which to insert the screw S and after thetooth has been attached this may be filled with cement p to make a smooth finish. When it is required to detach a tooth from the plate for repair or replacement, it is only necessary to heat the cement p to remove it in order to allow access to the head of the screw S so that the latter may. be unscrewed and the tooth taken ofl of the anchoring-tube C.

Referring to Fig. 6, in securing the tooth on a metal plate M the tube C is soldered thereto, and a fi1ister-headed screw S" is then i The anchoring-tubes B which are molded inserted from the under side of the plate to draw the tooth into place. The plate M is usually covered with vulcanite molded therearound, and this may be applied after the tube C has been fastened in position. In either case the tube C serves to locate the tooth on the plate, and the screw S secures it fixedly in position.

The tube 0 may be made of different lengths to adapt it for different styles of plates and different lengths of teeth, and if preferred the ends of' the two tubes B and C may be made to abut within the bore of the tooth T.

In forming the artificial denture the tube C is first attached to the plate by molding it into the vulcanite, or in the case of platinum, gold or silver plates by soldering or riveting its flange 0 to the metal thereof. In positioning the anchoring-tubes C on the plate P the teeth T are applied to their ends in order to locate them properly, but the teeth are removed when the tubes C are fastened to the plate. In some cases in soldering the tube C to the plate M, or in molding it into the vulcanite P, the screw S is'inserted through it to prevent its bore from being filled with the material; or, if preferred, the bore may be filled with plaster of Paris or somerother material which can be easily removed. After the tubes C are attached to the plate the teeth T are applied thereto as above described, and the screws S inserted to draw them down into place. In this way the teeth T are not subj ected to heat during the process of fastening their anchoring-means to the plate I, or M, as the case may be, so that the porcelain will not be injured or discolored. After the screws S have been inserted the openings in the bottom of the plate are filled with a cement which may be softened by heating to provide access to the screws when necessary as above explained, When the denture is completed the teeth are securedfixedly and rigidly in place on the plate, and their anchoring-means are entirely concealed so that a smooth and'finished appearance is given to the whole structure.

Copies of this patent may be obtained for in the-tooth T are of relatively small diameter, and their flattened ends, whlle serving to hold them from turning in the teeth and from withdrawal therefrom, at the same time do not weaken the structure of the molded porcelain. That is to say, the an choring-means occupies a relatively small space within the lower body of the tooth where its breadth is greatest so that the structure of the tooth is not'weakenedi The tube C which enters the base of the tooth serves to locate it in position in fitting the teeth to the plate, but, as before stated, the teeth may be removed from their anchoring means when the latter are fastened to the plate so that they will not be'damage d or discolored by the heat. My improvement provides for manufacturing the teeth in,

various forms and shades in accordance with natures models with their fastening-means fitted thereto to be furnished as a complete article of commerce for the purpose intcnded. In some cases the anchoring-tubes C are made of a considerable length in acordance with the requirements for dentures in which the teeth are set well away from the plate. For'closer settings these tubes may be filed or ground down, and therefore the whole device is interchangeable for dentures of different styles and forms, lengths and sizes.

Various modifications might be made in the form and structure of the parts of the ai'ichoring-means without departing from the spirit or scope of the invention; therefore, without limiting myself to the eXact details of construction shown and described, what I claim is In an artificial denture, the combination with an anchoring-tube having an extended base adapted to be attached to the plate, of a molded tooth having a vertical tube baked into its body, and a screw inserted through the bore of the anchoring-tubeand screwed into the threaded bore of the tube in the tooth to draw the latter into place against the plate. 7

In testimony whereof I afiix my signature.

NELSON B. WHITAKER.

five cents each, by addressing the Commissioner of Patents,

Washington, D. G. 

